"Strong New View on Police Board," Times-Union, September 22, 1965
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Below is a scanned image of an editorial from the Times-Union. The editorial, "Strong New View on Police Board," begins by referencing Bishop James E. Kearney's remarks against the Police Advisory Board. He is quoted as saying, "...its continuation hurts the morale of the department and is a reflection on the integrity of our men in uniform." The editorial continues by claiming the board has not promoted "good relations between the Negro community and the police" nor has it solved police brutality. The bishop's statement was sent via mail to the Citizens for Abolition of the Police Advisory Board and was then made public, with permission. The clipping can be found at the Local History Department of the Monroe County Library Downtown Branch. "Strong New View on Police Board," an editorial, was published in the Times-Union newspaper on September 22, 1965.
While the Police Advisory Board became law on March 26, 1963 to address complaints against officers who used "excessive and unnecessary force" against civilians, the Locust Club police union did everything in its power to thwart it from actually accomplishing anything. Two injunctions were slapped on it by the court preventing it from conducting independent investigations and forwarding recommendations to the chief of police--it's primary functions. By the mid-1960s, new appointments to the board were needed to meet quorum in order for it to do its work. But neither Democrats nor Republicans appointed anyone to the board after it was found constitutional by the courts in 1969. It was then defunded and abolished in 1970 by the new Republican Party-lead Rochester city government.
